The Last Shadow Puppets opened the Nationwide Mercury Prize ceremony this evening (September 9) in London with an orchestral performance of their title song 'The Age Of The Understatement'.

Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner and The Rascals' Miles Kane were joined by producer James Ford on drums and eleven string and horn players as they opened the bash with the title track of their debut at the Grosvenor House Hotel.

Accepting the nomination trophy after their performance, Turner jokingly told the crowd: "It's an honour to be nominated. This time last year we'd just finished this album, so we never thought we'd be here - we weren't in any danger though!"

Speaking to NME.COM earlier in the evening, Kane explained: "We're glad that we're playing first, then we can sit back and enjoy it."

"Each stage of this [band] has been like a new level. We made it, then it was 'I can't believe we're playing live', and now this, the next one of those surprises, we're excited. It's been great the last few months," added Turner.

Joking about his third nomination in as many years - both Arctic Monkeys albums were nominated - Turner laughed "it's an inside job", while Kane added it was "all down to the backhanders I've been giving them.

Both said that they wanted Elbow to win, while Turner revealed the pair have "three possible scenarios for tonight. If you win go to one place, if we lose another, and if we lose and someone we don't want to win wins, we'll go home!"